Lakas members to clash vs each other in ’04 polls?

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga — The looming scenario in the local elections next year in this presidential home province seems headed toward administration Lakas party members clashing against each other.

Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo told The STAR she would definitely run for mayor of this capital city, a post likely also to be sought by Vice Mayor Tiger Lagman. Both of them are members of Lakas. Domingo’s son Eric, who is the undersecretary of the Department of Health (DOH), is reportedly running for representative in Pampanga’s third district, even after San Fernando Mayor Reynaldo Aquino, who is on his last term as mayor, already announced he will definitely seek the post to be vacated by third-termer Rep. Oscar Rodriguez. All of them are also with Lakas.

Aquino said he heard reports that Lakas provincial board members Robert David and Ferdinand Labung are reportedly also seeking the congressional seat in the district.

Last Friday, 14 presidents of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) in this province met to endorse the gubernatorial candidacy of Mark Lapid, Lakas provincial chairman Gov. Lito Lapid’s eldest son, a provincial board member, also belonging to Lakas. Rodriguez has already announced he would also run for governor.

In the opposition, only fourth district Rep. Juan Pablo Bondoc of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) has manifested plans to run for governor.

In Pampanga’s second district, presidential son Vice Gov. Mikey Arroyo is seeking the congressional seat against Lapid’s brother Porac Vice Mayor Rey Lapid, both Lakas members.

Local political analyst Bong Lacson said that in the fourth district, Transportation and Communications Assistant Secretary Rene Maglangque has reportedly bared plans to run for representative against retired Col. Ramsey Ocampo, who is closely identified with former President Fidel Ramos, a Lakas stalwart. Bondoc’s sister Anna Bondoc is also running for congress in the district under the NPC, he said.

In the first district, Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin of Lakas will challenge NPC Rep. Francis Nepomuceno, but the outcome of the congressional race in the district is expected to be affected by the proposal , now up for third reading in Congress, separating Porac, Mabalacat and Magalang from the first district to comprise a new fifth district for Pampanga.

Should the law be passed and takes effect in time for the coming elections, Lakas Mayor Marino Morales would be challenged by provincial board member Joseller "Yeng" Guiao, also a Lakas member, Lacson said.

"It’s going to be an internecine scenario for Lakas in Pampanga in the coming elections," Lacson said.

"Some might give way, but it is possible the President might just declare a free zone for her province with so many of her partymates seeking the same post. But I suppose she would try her best to convince local politicians to give way to teach other," Lacson added.

But Lacson also said that some Lakas candidates might bolt the party if they do not get the support of its leaders and move to other political camps. "This will all depend on the perceived strength of the presidential bets of the opposition," he said, noting that presidentiable former Sen. Raul Roco even beat former President Joseph Estrada during the presidential elections in Pampanga in 1998. Estrada came in only second.